Congressman, Jeff Denham

I just want to give a quick thank you and God Bless to our Congressman, Jeff Denham! I was recently encouraged by David Bereit, 40 Days for Life Director, to send an email, “to your Member of Congress RIGHT NOW and tell them how you feel about removing ALL taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers!” So, I did, letting him know how I felt and why I believe funding needs to be pulled from Planned Parenthood. Here was his response to my email.

Dear Patrick,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the sanctity of life. This is an issue of utmost concern to me, and I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. I believe that life begins with conception, and that abortion is the immoral termination of an innocent human life. I feel we must emphasize the value of human life, and restore rights to unborn children.

Since 1976, Congress has included the Hyde Amendment in appropriations legislation to prohibit the use of federal dollars to fund abortions through programs like Medicaid. The amendment does not prohibit State funded or privately funded abortions; it only prohibits federal agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services from using federal taxpayer dollars to fund abortion.

I am committed to banning the use of federal funds to pay for the performance of abortions. For that reason, I support H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” which was introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on January 20, 2011. According to the Guttmacher Institute, about 25% of Medicaid-eligible women who would otherwise choose abortion choose life when public funds are not available. With 1 in 10 American women covered by Medicaid, the implications of this funding ban are significant.

On February 19th, the House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund federal departments and agencies through the rest of FY2011. This bill restored long standing prohibitions against the use of federal and local funds for abortion and needle exchange programs. I voted in support of Amendment 11 to the CR which prohibits the use of any federal funds from being used by Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliates. Amendment 11, introduced by. Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) was included in the CR that passed the House. Currently, the CR is pending in the Senate.

In Congress, I will be an advocate for the rights of the unborn. I will support bills that are life-affirming, increase parental rights, provide necessary barriers to make it more difficult to get an abortion, and deny federal funding to groups and practices that provide abortive procedures of any kind. I care deeply about the dignity and sanctity of unborn human life. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for the rights of the unborn.

Finally, I encourage you to visit my website at www.denham.house.gov to get the most current information on my work in Congress. Once again, thank you for contacting me. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely,

JEFF DENHAM
United States Representative

Thank you Congressman, Jeff Denham, for being an advocate for life, a voice for the unborn! I pray that God will continue to use you in this position to bring justice and to influence others in your sphere about the importance of life. Also a BIG thanks to the rest of our Congressmen who voted yes on the Pence amendment…find out who voted what, HERE.